Exploring Improvement Keys in Lean Management for Workplace Solutions

3.0 Material Efficiency - Applying Keys

When exploring the 20 keys to workplace solutions efficiency relates to the following three keys:

Key 19: Conserving Energy – Conserving Energy and Materials

Key 12: Developing Vendors – Developing Your Suppliers

Key 4: Trimming Down Inventory – Reducing Inventory

3.1 Conserving Energy

Conserving energy and materials are a vital part of a properly functioning business. There are many different ways in which this can be performed to most benefit both the suppliers and the consumers. Conserving energy does not only refer to the actual output of fuel required to produce a product, but also refers to the amount of time and effort applied by all involved to produce the product. One of the most important and efficient ways in which one can conserve energy is to reduce the amount of waste. “Waste is defined as any non value adds activity or process, which the customer would not be happy to pay for. For example, the customer would not expect to pay for your business storage space used to store unnecessary levels of WIP inventory.” (http://www.businessengineering.co.nz/lpidetail.html)

Material conservation is also important. Materials include products on hand and products that are necessary to facilitate production or assembly. “Resource efficiency most basic means uses resources such as water, energy and even your workforce more efficiently. Getting the most out of what you have. This can be beneficial in many ways such as reducing the amount of material used and/or manufacturing costs, reducing waste materials and compliance to environmental legislation. It also reduces your impact on the environment.” (http://www.businessballs.com/environmentalmanagement.htm) Based on energy and re...

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Vorne (n.d.). Tools to Monitor and Improve Manufacturing Productivity (OEE, Lean, and More). Retrieved March 3, 2014, from http://www.vorne.com

20 Keys management system (n.d.) Retrieved February 20, 2014, from http://www.proera.md/consulting/consulting_services/20keys/index.html

FIGURES

Figure 1 shows The Five-Step MBO process concept by Peter Drucker

Figure 2 illustrate the different approaches used in problem solving. (DCMIC, n.d.)

Figure 3 shows Ten Principles to Employee Empowerment. (McMahon, 2013)

Figure 4 Negative Businesses Affect (A Systems View of Setup Reduction, 2014)

Figure 5 5S-PLUS STAR (US EPA, 2013)

Figure 6 Andon Machinery Control Systems (McMahon, 2013)

Figure 7 Andon Machinery Control Systems (McMahon, 2013)

Figure 8: Improvement keys Workplace Solutions (Richardson, 2014)